Blinds & Shades

Pianistyka Jazzowa
premiera polska: 2005-01-31
kontynent: Europa
opakowanie: digipackowe etui
opis:
Audio Video, 2003-12, ocena: rewelacja
'...Najwspanialsza rzecz jaka może się przytrafić recenzentowi płytowemu to gdy dostaje do rąk płytę zupełnie mu nie znanego muzyka i 'przysiada z wrażenia'. To mi się przydarzyło słuchając nowej płyty Floriana Rossa, zawierającej z jednym wyjątkiem tylko jego kompozycje. Oto po Esbjornie Svenssonie pojawił się kolejny talent jazzowej pianistyki. Napięcie między trzema instrumentalistami tworzy atmosferę, która przykuwa uwagę od początku do końca płyty. Jest to jazz, któremu nie sposób się oprzeć...'

Diapazon.pl
'...Wydawałoby się, że w zakresie tria fortepianowego wszystko już zostało napisane i zagrane. Otóż, okazuje się, że można poprzez tę formę jeszcze wiele powiedzieć. Dla mnie, w tym zakresie, odkryciem jest Florian Ross. 32-letni niemiecki kompozytor i pianista znalazł idealny dla siebie sposób ekspresji. Niezależnie od wcześniejszych owocnych doświadczeń z big bandami potrafił w wymagającej, kameralnej formie zbudować świat dźwięków, od którego trudno się oderwać...'
autor: Andrzej Grabowski

“…away from the mire of homogeneous Eurobop and into the realms of inventive and original small-group jazz.” Gramophone

JazzTimes
The most obvious role model for the Florian Ross Trio is Keith Jarrett’s band with Jack DeJohnette and Gary Peacock. An inventive, inspired unit capable of heightened sensitivity and ferocious interplay, they exhibit remarkable empathy and dazzling virtuosity on Blinds & Shades (Intuition). As the trio’s principal composer, pianist Ross demonstrates a delicate touch on luminous pieces like “Ev’ry Now and Then (Pause and Think Again)” and “Grande Tristesse,” as well as on the gorgeous solo piano closer “Goodbye,” while his more forceful keyboard work, as on “Toss & Turn” and “Getting There (Is Half the Fun),” creates its own swinging, cascading momentum.

There are two blatantly Jarrett-inspired numbers here in “Farewell” and “Julia,” as well as an experimental offering in “Bookend,” in which Ross plays inside the piano and mutes strings for percussive effect. Bassist Remi Vignolo is an outstanding soloist and an adventurous accompanist whose deep-toned, contrapuntal lines greatly enhance this trio’s flexibility. Drummer John Hollenbeck plays with the right combination of fire and finesse throughout...
by Bill Milkowski

Editor's info:
On his first Intuition album Blinds and Shades, Florian Ross concentrates entirely on the trio ensemble, with Remi Vignolo at the bass and John Hollenbeck at the drums. Large part of the recording was produced at the Kleiner Sendesaal of the WDR. The titles Bookend, Julia and Bye Bye Blackbird, with Martijn Vink at the drums, were commissioned by the Deutschlandfunk and recorded at the Loft in Cologne. Except for the arrangement Bye Bye Blackbird originally composed by Ray Henderson, the ten pieces are the pianist's own compositions. Chamber music jazz at its best!

Here, again, Florian Ross falls back on the beginnings of the hard bop. Blinds and Shades shows his rather individual examination of the jazz traditions of the 1950s. He breaks down the worn-out pattern of solos accompanied by only one continuous rhythm, by integrating again and again passages of rhythmic tension and by having the melodically expressive style of playing, such as in Bookend, follow the harmony of contemporary music.

The Florian Ross Trio does not follow exclusively the tradition of Bill Evans, the three equal partners rather probe the world of contemporary jazz while playing, without forgetting the tradition.

And what better statement could be made than what Harald Rehmamm (“Jazz Live” / Deutschlandfunk / January 2004) said: “One say without doubt and patriotic pathos that the Florian Ross Trio can currently be counted among the world's leading piano trios.”

muzycy:
Florian Ross: piano
Remi Vignolo: double bass
John Hollenbeck: drums
Martijn Vink: drums

utwory:
1. Soundcheck 4:19
2. Toss & Turn 6:52
3. Ev'ry Now And Then (Pause And Think Again) 8:22
4. Getting There (Is Half The Fun) 8:34
5. Grande Tristesse 7:10
6. Farewell 8:06
7. Bookend 6:27
8. Julia 6:42
9. Bye Bye Blackbird 11:42
10. Goodbye 3:22

wydano: 2003
nagrano: 2003
more info: www.intuition-music.com